"Here One Day, Gone the Next:The Lesson Grant Taught Us All

Photo of Grant Nelson ... May His Memory Be For A Blessing. (Posted by Alan Busch, Community Contributor)

Community Contributor Alan Busch

Author's Note ... "There but for the grace of God go I,"- 'A recognition that others' misfortune could be one's own, if it weren't for the blessing of the Divine, or for one's luck.'

The one limitation of this centuries old expression of thanksgiving is that, in every single case, only the survivors get to say it; the victim-often through no fault of his own- turns out invariably to have been placed in 'harm's way" from which he could not extricate himself safely.

Considering the many alternate possibilities, there is only one, that of Grant Nelson, beloved son of Tina and Leonard Nelson, of whom it can be said that he and he alone was "in the wrong place at the wrong time."

The terribly random nature of this simple but tragic fact is what frustrates us so-leaving us, the survivors, powerless to undo its absolutely final nature.

Therein lies the utter senselessness of the tragedy that befell Grant Nelson. Who among us can satisfactorily answer the question: 'Why? Why Grant?'

Search as you may for the right words, for words of comfort; but by the end of the search you'll have no better explanation than "because he was there."

Grant was the sole victim of an extraordinarily violent assault by 16-year old alleged assailant Aliza Wasni, a resident of Chicago, who attacked him repeatedly with a knife and machete shortly after she entered his car about 3:20 a.m.Tuesday morning in Lincolnwood, IL-all within several blocks of the Walmart store in Skokie from which she had earlier stolen both weapons which she would later use in the commission of her crime."

Some obvious questions come to mind:1) Even though the alleged perpetrator stole both the machete and knife, she must have had relatively easy access to both items. 2) Are there no items locked away from public view by let's say, 10:00 p.m. or is Walmart simply responding to a spike in customer demand for knives and machetes at three o'clock in the morning? 3) Why did store security not prevent her from leaving the store or, again, are 16-year white females not considered 'suspicious persons' at 3:00 a.m.?

It is this writer's personal view that Walmart management, at the very least, owes a full explanation and apology to the public at large and to the Nelson family in particular.

"I'd rather not talk about that," began Emma Fine, organizer of the 30-car Uber escort that accompanied Grant's funeral procession from Chicago Jewish Funerals, located at Niles Center and Skokie Boulevard, to his final resting place at Memorial Park Cemetery in Skokie.

She would not comment about the alleged perpetrator, Aliza Wasni, who is presently in the custody of the Cook County Sheriff's office after being denied bail at her arraignment before a judge of the Cook County Circuit Court.

"This is Grant's time we set aside for him, in his memory. That should be the focus," Emma continued whose facial expression reflected more than simple solidarity for a fallen fellow driver, but love, kindness and compassion as well. It could just as easily have been she or any of the other drivers whose personal donation of time on Friday afternoon, June 2, 2017, reflected the same awkward recognition that each of them might well have passed away that Tuesday morning at St. Francis Hospital in Evanston.

This writer extends his personal empathy and condolences to the Nelson Family for their tragic loss. May they know of no further suffering.

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